johnpalmer

Per my treadmill, I can now jog for 5 miles an hour for 20 minutes, the day after jogging for 5 miles an hour, 4 minutes at a time.

Twenty minutes is *huge*, because that's what "they" say you need for increases in aerobic fitness - 20 minutes, at least three times a week. I've also had trainers counsel me that one can increase one's time by 10% each week - and 20 to 22 minutes feels like a meaningful jump.

And part of me is saying "you know, 5 miles an hour - that's a *slow jog*, at best.

But you know something? I've been working hard, since last June, to get my heart stronger and be able to run. Anything that takes a dedicated person 8 months to accomplish is a big deal. Yeah, I haven't brought about world peace or fed the hungry or prevented some poor, put upon church from having to buy an insurance policy that would indirectly allow a woman to use contraception if she chooses to do so - but it's still *big*, for me.

(And, no side effects as near as I can tell - I'm not tired, or super-sweaty, or exercise-headache-y. I do have a headache - I think that's an incipient cold.)

Of course, my next step is going to be testing out 3 minutes on/1.5 minutes off at 5.1, then 5.2, etc., MPH instead of doing steady 5mph jogs. My mid-term goal was 3 miles in 30 minutes, and I finally feel like I'm closing in on it.

Oh, and one for the "don't make the mistakes I make (make some new ones, at least)" file:

Any time you're working on a treadmill, and you find that the treadmill is, in any way, driving *you*, it's time to slow down, immediately. I've got a twinge in my shin, near my calf, from ignoring that advice.